PORTLAND, Ore. – Four high school standouts have signed National Letters of Intent with the Portland State softball team Vikings head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk announced.
The four set to join Portland State next fall are Rebecca Bliss of Sunnyvale, Calif., Crysta Conn of Roseburg, Ore., Kayla Norrie of San Dimas, Calif., and Meghan Lyons of Portland.
Bliss will come to the Park Blocks from Wilcox High School, where she was a 2009 first team all-league player after batting .476 and leading the De Anza League in RBIs. She also was honored as the De Anza League Offensive Player of the Year and was named a first team All-Mercury player by the San Jose Mercury newspaper.
"Becca is the type of player that will give you everything that she has," said Echo-Hawk. "Her intensity and love for the game is what drew us to her."
A 5-foot-4 outfielder, Bliss helped the Chargers to the league title last season and to the Division I Central Coast Section (CCS) semis. In 2008, Wilcox High was the El Camino League champions, and in '07 they won the PSAL title.
A soccer standout as well, Bliss was a first team all-league selection in 2006-07 and a second teammer in 2008-09.
Conn has been an honorable mention all-state infielder the past two seasons at Roseburg High School. A 5-foot-5 third baseman, she has been on the varsity every season and is a three-time first team all-league honoree. Conn was Roseburg's team MVP this past spring.
In 2008, Conn and the Indians finished second at the state tournament, and won Southwest Conference titles in 2007 and 2008. Her summer ball team, the NW Bullets 18 Gold, also has experienced success, as they finished fifth at the Gold Nationals this past summer and 17th two years ago.
"We are extremely excited to have Crysta coming in next year," Echo-Hawk said. "She is one of those players that you just love to watch because she makes it looks so effortless."
Norrie hit .319 last year at San Dimas High School, where she earned second team All-Valley Vista League honors as a first baseman. Expected to play catcher at Portland State, Norrie has played varsity ball every year for the Saints and is a two-time team captain.
As a freshman, Norrie earned first team all-league honors. She has helped San Dimas to three straight league titles and to the CIF Section V playoffs every season. Last year, the Saints were Section V finalists.
"Kayla has a great presence behind the dish," Echo-Hawk said. "She brings a great knowledge of the game and is constantly striving to get better. She will add an excellent work ethic to our program. We are very excited to have her join us next year."
The fourth signee is Lyons, who plays the middle infield positions and outfield at Sunset High School. She is a three-time first team All-Metro League honoree, and was named the Apollos team MVP in 2007 and 2009.
The 5-foot-4 Lyons helped Sunset to second place this past spring at the Oregon class 6A state tourney. In the championship game, Lyons went 2-for-5 with a double and stolen base from her leadoff spot, but the Apollos fell 4-3 to North Medford.
Lyons was teammates with Conn on the NW Bullets team that took fifth at nationals this past summer.
"Meghan is a tremendous athlete with a lot of experience both on the dirt and in the outfield," said Echo-Hawk. "She brings speed and quickness, and along with her versatility, she will be a great addition to our program."
PORTLAND STATE SOFTBALL NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNEES
Rebecca Bliss
5'4" – OF
Sunnyvale, Calif. – Wilcox High School
Crysta Conn
5'5" – 3B
Roseburg, Ore. – Roseburg High School
Kayla Norrie
5'9" – C
San Dimas, Calif. – San Dimas High School
Meghan Lyons
5'4" – OF
Beaverton, Ore. – Sunset High School